Glynn Gorick: : "Reef and Forest" The lower left corner of this painting shows a magnified view of part of a diatom plant cell and other algal cells in the marine plankton. These plants are able to make food and the whole coral reef community depends upon them. As the living coral grows, a reef is built, which protects the coastal habitat from wave action. The forest is important for the reef because it soaks up heavy rainfall and stops soil erosion. When forests are cut down, rain water runs off quickly into rivers carrying soil and causing flooding. The valuable soil is carried to the sea as fine silt where it may smother the corals. Mangrove trees thrive along the tidal zone. Their leaves are the main food supply for proboscis monkeys. A male monkey is shown here shouting at intruders who usually are younger males or human hunters. Mangrove timber cutters and tourists have recently added to the invasion. The balance of these rich ecosystems is being altered at alarming speed by local and global changes. Deforestation, overfishing, and unregulated tourism quickly take their toll. It is thought that warmer sea water due to global warming, and extra ultra violet sunlight as a result of the thinning of the protective ozone layer, is also damaging the corals. There are some moves to protect coastal forests, to replant mangrove forests, and to establish marine conservation areas. This painting was designed for the book 'Global Biodiversity Assessment' which explains how the vast assembly of living organisms on Earth is studied.